Whether you are looking for faculty-led study abroad, educational tourism, international student “trips,” or a unique study abroad experience, AEA has twenty years of experience in this sector. Here are 3 things we can do for you:

• Design unique programs from scratch – including hotels, meals, guides, transportation, excursions, special visits, and even group air booking (with or without a program).

• Handle only the parts you need – for example, a 4-day service learning program in Cusco, with a special lecture by a sharp-witted historian on Day 2.

• Put your own itinerary into motion – flexible support so you get exactly what you want.

Each program is entirely yours—your course, faculty, students, credit, and dates. We have no minimum numbers and our prices are reasonable. AEA will make it happen.

• Every program is unique: We tailor (bespoke) programs to your needs, interests, group size, your dates and budget by combining your goals with our local expertise.

• Flexible: Hands down, we are the most flexible program provider you will find, be in a full program design, part of your program or implementing your own program, a hybrid or virtual partner, we can do so in 100 countries.

• Ownership: AEA turned 20 in 2025, and is still family owned. Many of our competitors are partially or wholly owned by private equity funds, including: Worldstrides (which owns ISA); parts of EF; CEA/ CAPA (which purchased CEI Abroad).

• Price: AEA pricing is the only provider that offers transparent pricing up front. If you need the price at a certain point, tell us.

• Built on relationships: Our team and partners are like family. You may enjoy a home-cooked meal in a relative’s kitchen or stay overnight in the jungle with a family friend.

• Local teams: Unlike many companies, AEA has dedicated, local teams in most destinations and regions, often more than one per country.

• Destinations: AEA works in all the major destinations, and encourages faculty to spend time in less popular cities to save on costs and to have a more local experience.

• Commitment to responsible travel: We encourage respectful engagement, minimizing negative impact and maximizing positive impact on people and planet.

• Greater good focus: We are pursuing B Corp status and already contribute 5% of profits to the world’s most vulnerable people while actively addressing climate change.

Have a look at our infographic for a fun look at the process.

Here’s the longer version:

A member of our team will walk you through each step of the process, ideally starting with a phone call. Most faculty begin by reviewing or completing our online Request for Proposal (RFP), which is an excellent way to understand the scope of our services.

After requesting a proposal, we schedule a call to make sure we are all on the same page and work out any questions. Sometimes, we recommend a phone call with our in-country team to iron out ideas.

Then we prepare and send you a proposal. If you want changes, that’s A.O.K. We will make them. If you need a lower price, we discuss how to do that.

After a proposal is accepted, you’ll get it approved as a course. Hopefully, you’re working with you study abroad office while working with us to make sure you meet your institution’s timelines.

AEA handles the contract with the university study abroad office, and you recruit students. Once you know your minimum numbers have been met by receiving deposits, the program is confirmed. Recruitment can continue.

AEA works with the study abroad office to handle payments.

Our team will keep you up-to-date to changes and updates throughout.

Usually, around 3 months before departure, we start the pre-departure process, which often includes a group call with our in-country team so that you and students can ask questions that have come up.

There are a few other pieces to the puzzle that we will go over with you at the necessary times.

Costs vary depending on airfare, faculty included, number of participants, meals, travel, and accommodations.

• 1-week programs: As low as ~$1,500 (without airfare) in less expensive countries

• 2-week programs in Europe: These days programs in Europe are close to or more than $3,000, often without airfare.

• Proposals are free – we’ll design a program around your budget.

• In-country support: Local bilingual guides, in-country teams, and a 24/7 emergency line

• Pre-departure prep: Pre-departure phone call planning and Q&A with local team member

• On-site Orientation: Once in country, get the low-down on the local way to do things, and have a chance to ask questions

• Insurance:

  • Up to $5 million Professional & General Liability Insurance

  • Optional CISI Travel & Health Insurance at $4/day per person (includes trip cancellation, evacuation, mental health coverage, and more).

• AEA maintains general, professional, bodily harm, and automobile liability coverage up to $5 million.

• Additional coverages available (e.g., additional insured and Primary Coverage) at extra cost.

• Full local teams in most countries: In-country managers, local program managers, guides, and 24-hour contacts.

• Multiple teams in large countries: e.g., China, India, and Vietnam have two or more managers and several teams for maximum flexibility.

• Awesome Communication: We like to use Whatsapp Groups for ready comms.

• Did we mention that we are super flexible?

• Destinations: Nearly all of Asia, Europe, North & Latin America, much of the Caribbean, Oceania, plus parts of Africa and the Middle East.

• We only operate where we can provide the same level of service and local connections as our core destinations.

• We are a fully remote team, which makes it easier to meet with us and work on the same timezone. Our American team members are based in Portland, Oregon; Vancouver, Washington; Portland, Maine; and Upstate New York.

Absolutely—we have worked with 200+ colleges and universities since 2005.

• In addition to website testimonials, we can connect you with faculty, SAO staff, and administrators who have worked with us.

AEA is family-owned, not hedge-fund owned. One of our partners said they wanted to keep us a secret because they didn’t want the experience to change.

If you haven’t heard of us, it could be because we spend $0 annually on marketing. Somehow, without marketing, we sent 95 programs and 1,500 people abroad in 2025.

• 80% of clients are repeat or referral-based. We welcome you to become one.

• We may not always be the cheapest, but we do keep costs lower by avoiding advertising. Instead, we attend a few conferences annually (NAFSA, FORUM)

• We are happy to meet in person, schedule a video call, or connect by phone the old-fashioned way.